Fence-post and socket



" UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. WILLIAMS, OF WASSAIO, NEW YORK.

FENCE-POST AND SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,942, dated August 20, 1895.

v Application filed October 24, 1894. Serial No. 526,838- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- I

Be it known that I, JOHN F. WILLIAMS, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wassaic, Dutchess county, New York, have invented an Improved Fence-Post and Socket,

of which the following is a specification.

The main object of my invention is to so construct'a fence or other post and its socket that there shall be no liability to breakagein driving the sockets and posts into place and that they can be economically made and easily put up, and that when put up they will be substantial and stand unlimited strains, and that the wires can be conveniently tightened or relaxed, as found desirable.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view illustrating a fence-post and socket in position in the ground. Fig. 1 is a view of an intermediate post and socket in the length of the fence. Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views, drawn to a larger scale, of different forms of sockets embodying my invention; and Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views illustrating a detail of my invention.

I make my tubular wrought-iron posts P longer than usual, and form their lower ends into points, as shown at 10 in Fig. l, and I construct my cast-iron sockets S each with a central sleeve s, open through for the passage of the post P, as shown in Figs. 1 and 1*. Thus the forged point of the wrought-iron post itself will be the part which will come in contact with obstacles, such as large stones or rocks in the ground, and danger of breaking be thus avoided. When the extent to which Similarly, the tension on the wires may be released to prevent breaking by allowing the post to turn back in the socket.

On one side of the socket, with or without a wing, there is provided a horizontal flange 7', provided with a perforation or other means,

whereby there may besecured to it the angle whereby the angle-piece may be applied and detachably secured to the socket at any time after the socket and post have been put in place. a

W'ith the socket and post I prefer to provide one or more guy-rods G, according as it may be found desirable to support the post. In Fig. 21 have constructed the socket as for use with one of these guy-rods, while the socket shown in Fig. 3 is adapted for use in connection with two opposite guy-rods. On whichever side one of these guy-rods is to be provided the corresponding wing of the socket is preferably provided with atop flange f, and its outer end is perforated at f for the free passage of the gny rod, while a traiisverse pocket f is provided for the convenient insertion laterally of a rectangular or other polygonal threaded nut n, Figs. t and 5, such that while it can be freely slipped into this pocket it cannot be turned therein, Upon introducing the nut into place in the pocket with its threaded opening opposite the opening), the threaded end of the guy-rod G can be screwed into the nut. The upper end of the guy-rod, as shown in Fig. 1, is connected to the upper part of the fence-post with a suitable swivel-joint at g.

Although I have described my invention as particularly adapted for fence work, it will be evident that many features of my inven tion may be employed in connection with sockets for other posts, such as for poles for telegraph or telephone or trolley wires or flagpoles.

I claim as my invention- 1. A fence post socket provided with wings and a horizontal flange, a rectangular anglepiece and means for detachably securing it to said flange, substantially as described.

2. A fence post socket having a central sleeve for the reception and passage there- ICO through of a post, radial wings on said sleeve,

and a horizontal flange on one of said wings at its lower end to engage with the aforesaid 10 v provided with openings for a stay rod connecnut, substantially as set forth. tion, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have signed my 3. The combination of a fence post with a name to this specification in the presence of 5 socket having a central sleeve for the passage two subscribing witnesses.

of the post, and a wing or flange provided JOHN F. WILLIAMS. with a pocket for the reception of a threaded Witnesses:

nut and a guy rod connected to the upper M. K. LEWIS,

part of the post with a swivel and threaded JOHN G. DOYLE. 

